Sell, Sell, Sell! How To Improve Your Retail Sales

Running a retail business can be extremely challenging in this day and age. Competition from other shops and online stores is intense, and people are always looking around to see where they can get the best deal. Many people will be offering the same type of products as you, so you need to find a way that you can stand out from the crowd.

The reason that people go into shops instead of buying online is the overall treatment and service they receive, as well as being able to look at products and get specific advice. If you are looking to improve sales at your retail business, here are a few ways of doing so.

Your employees are the front line of your business. They will be the public face of your shop, and can determine whether customers will make a purchase from your business and whether they will return. As well as being friendly and welcoming, they should also be knowledgeable so they can answer specific queries about products. Many people can be put off by shop assistants who are too intrusive, so knowing when to provide assistance and knowing when to let customers browse on their own is an important aspect of the job.

Staff should receive good training so they are fully able to meet the requirements of the shop. They will also feel more comfortable doing their job knowing that they are fully equipped to do so. Staff who are happy in their job are much more likely to provide good service. Customers notice if they seem disengaged or disinterested, so think about the ways in which you can improve employee satisfaction.

Think about the overall impression customers will get of the store. This begins at the shop window. Is everything displayed well so people can get a full impression of exactly what your store has to offer? Have you taken the time to make your shop premises accessible so everyone is able to easily get inside?

Once they are actually in the store, consider the overall atmosphere of the place. Is everything easily on display and is it all clearly signposted? How does the lighting and music play a part in the customer experience? For many retail businesses, attention to detail in extremely important.

Get Social

Just because your store is an actual physical entity, it doesn’t mean you can’t use the internet as at tool to drive people into it. Social media is one of the most effective ways of doing this. Many businesses nowadays have Facebook and Twitter accounts that allow them to advertise what is going on in the store, any promotions that you are having or special events that are taking place. Photo sharing platforms like Instagram are also great for retail businesses as they provide the perfect opportunity to photograph new products or post pictures of the store as a way of drawing people in.

People are still happy when they feel like they are getting a good deal. Discounted sale items are still popular, and a good way of selling on stock which is coming to the end of the line. Alternatively, you could give some sort of percentage discount when people spend a certain amount in store. Another option is to create some sort of reward scheme in which people are issued with a loyalty card.

Don’t Forget Your Marketing Spend

With so many overheads, marketing can often slip to the back on the queue. But without a robust strategy in place, people may not know about your business and therefore you will lose custom. Consider a range of different strategies. Whenever there is a major talking point in your store, make sure to issue a press release to local media outlets to grab some free coverage. Think about getting involved in networking events so you can speak to people face to face about your business. Online advertising can be effective, but people can still be influenced in more traditional ways such as billboards, posters and leaflets.

Host Events in Store

People love to experience something different, so think about the various ways you can draw people in. Consider hosting a special event based around what your store specialises in and make sure it is widely publicised. Offering some sort of free activity, or food and drink will certainly attract customers!